Monorail transport system

Abstract

A monorail public transport system utilizing a plurality of independent cars that circulate a main route with shunting of select cars to passenger loading stations without substantial interference of the continuous circulation of the remaining cars on a circuitous main route, wherein the shunting is accomplished by a high-speed switching mechanism having multiple segmented articulated rails having one segment that is pivotally anchored for pivoting the rail.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A monorail transport system comprising: a plurality of independent light weight cars carrying 1-4 passengers, a monorail track network having a track support structure, supporting a common main line and supporting at least one side line diverting from the main line and reentering the main line;   wherein the side line and main line have fixed track segments and the side line is connected to the main line with a first high-speed switching means for diverting cars from a fixed track segment of the main line to a fixed track segment of the side line, and a second high-speed switching means for reentering cars from a fixed track segment of the side line to a fixed track segment of the main line, while cars not diverted to the side line continue along the main line bypassing the side line;   wherein the fixed track segments have ends and the first and second switching means each includes a low-mass, multi-segment, articulated rail with a first end pivotally connected to an end of one of the fixed track segments and a second distal end selectively connectable to an end of another one of the fixed track segments spaced from the end of said one of the fixed track segments, with the first and second switching means each including at least one high-speed first actuator means mounted to the track support structure and to the multi-segment articulated rail proximate the distal end, and, at least one high-speed second actuator means mounted to the track support structure and to the multi-segment articulated rail intermediate the pivotally connected end and the distal end for rapidly displacing the articulated rail from a first position to a second position; and   wherein one end of the side line is positioned to align with the second distal end of one of the articulated rails, and the other end of the side line is connected with the first end of another one of the articulated rails.   
     
     
       2. The monorail transport system of claim 1 wherein the first switching means includes the multi-segment articulated rail having the first end pivotally connected to the end of a fixed track segment on the main line and the second distal end selectively connectable to the end of a fixed track segment on the main line and the end of a fixed track segment on the side line. 
     
     
       3. The monorail transport system of claim 2 wherein the second distal end includes a locking means for locking the distal end of the articulated rail to the main line or side line. 
     
     
       4. The monorail transport system of claim 3 wherein the locking means includes a recess in the distal end of the articulated rail, and wherein the main line and the side line each include a fixed track segment with a displaceable end head in the end of the fixed track segment with actuator means for selectively extending and retracting the end head, wherein the displaceable end head of the end segment of the main line or the side line is selectively engageable in the recess of the distal end of the articulated rail. 
     
     
       5. The monorail transport system of claim 4 wherein the locking means includes a spring bias means for biasing the end head toward the distal end of the articulated rail. 
     
     
       6. The monorail transport system of claim 1 wherein the second switching means includes the multi-segment articulated rail which is a first multi-segment articulated rail having the first end pivotally connected to the end of a fixed track segment on the main line and the second distal end selectively connectable to the end of a fixed track segment on the main line and displaceable from the main line, and, a second-multi-segment articulated rail having a first end pivotally connected to the end of a fixed track segment on the side line and second distal end selectively displaceable from the main line, wherein either the distal end of the first rail or the second rail is connected to the main line. 
     
     
       7. The monorail transport system of claim 6 wherein the end of the fixed segment of the main line selectively connectable to the distal end of the first and second articulated rails includes a locking means for locking the end of the fixed segment of the main line to the distal end of the first rail or the distal end of the second rail. 
     
     
       8. The monorail transport system of claim 7 wherein the locking means includes a displaceable end head with actuator means for retracting the end head, and wherein each of the distal ends of the first and second rails includes an end segment with a recess, wherein the displaceable end head of the locking means is selectively engageable in the recess of one of the end segments of the first rail and second rail. 
     
     
       9. The monorail transport system of claim 6 wherein the locking means includes a spring bias means for biasing the end head toward the distal end of one of the first and second articulated rails. 
     
     
       10. The transport system of claim 1 wherein the actuator means comprise at least one hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
       11. The transport system of claim 1 wherein the multi-segment articulated rail includes at least one rail segment between the intermediate actuator means and the distal actuator means, and at least one rail segment between the intermediate actuator means and the pivotally connected first end of the articulated rail.